Mauricio Pochettino urges Chelsea to spoil Jurgen Klopp's farewell tour
- Liverpool will play at Anfield for the second time since Klopp announced his departure
- Pochettino paid tribute to the outgoing boss but is refusing to lie down
- Christopher Nkunku & Malo Gusto both available after injury
By Tom Gott
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has warned Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp that the Blues are not looking to join in farewell celebrations at Anfield when the two sides meet on Wednesday.
Klopp was met with a serenade of You'll Never Walk Alone when Liverpool hosted Norwich City, with Reds fans keen to pay tribute to the German ahead of his departure at the end of the season.
While Pochettino acknowledged Klopp is deserving of such affection, he urged his Chelsea side to go out and spoil the party on Wednesday.
"It's a special game for him," Pochettino said. "Until the end, it's going to be special always.
"Every time they play at Anfield, it's going to be a party always, to celebrate, and to give him all the love they feel, the fans feel for him and I think it's deserved.
"But we are thinking we need to go there and win the game. Sorry, but we don't want to be involved or be part of the celebration. We want to perform well and win the game."
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Chelsea will head to Anfield bolstered by the returns of right-back Malo Gusto and forward Christopher Nkunku, both of whom are expected to make the squad. Striker Nicolas Jackson is also in with a chance of featuring after Senegal were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.
"I think it is good news, Malo Gusto and Christoph can be in the squad for tomorrow," he explained. "Travel with us, with the team, that is good news. We will see. We will wait for the last moment, but at the moment, yes, it's good news to have two players recovered.
"And to see maybe, why not, to arrive Nicolas Jackson for tomorrow and to be involved also in the game. If he can arrive."
There will, however, be no Levi Colwill, who remains out with a small injury concern.
"He suffered a minor injury in his tendon," Pochettino said. "It's not a big issue but he is going to be out for tomorrow."
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